Water control for gravity-meters.



D. R. YARNALL.

WATER CONTROL FOR GRAVITY METERS; APPLICATIONFILED NOV. a. 1912.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915..

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

WI ESSES A TTORNE Y 0.1a. YARNALL. WATER CONTROL FOR GRAVIITY METERS. APPLICATION FILED NOV-8.1912.

" 1,159,149 Patented Nov 2, I915. Z-SHEETS-SHEEI 2..

Fig 4 l: i *1 u DAVID ROBERT YARNALL, O1? PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO YARNALL-WARING GOMPANY, OF-PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- roaarron or PENNSYLVANIA.

WATER CONTROL FOR GRAVITY-METERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedNov. 2, 1915.

Original application filed. April 8, 1912, Serial No. 689,144. Divided and this application filed November 8,

191.2. Serial No. 730,125. i 1

To alZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Davis ROBERT YAR- NALL,'E1 citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Phila- 5 delphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented, a certain new and useful Water Control for ii-ravity-lvieters, of which the following is a specification.

The purpose of my inventlon is to mamtainthe level of the overflow from a gravity meter.

A further purpose of my invention is to provide positive control of the withdrawal of water from a meter storage compartment by automatic control of the pump.

A further purpose of my invention is to control-the return and make-up water for any heater system proportionately to the height of water in the storage compartment in :1 preferably pressure-tight gravity meter.

A further purpose of my invention is to control the return water or feed water entering the meter, and preferably also the makeup water, where separately supplied, by the level of the water in the meter storage compartment.

A further purpose of my invention is to provide a meter in series with a preferably closed water heater, and to control the water admitted to the meter and, preferably, also the makeup water, in proportion to the height of water in the storage tank of the meter.

A further purpose of my invention is to control preferably all oflth e Water-receiving and discharging func ions of a meter by the height of water level in the storage compartment of the meter. starting the pump and stopping both .miiin, delivery and any 40 make-up. water supplied to the meter, with rise of storage compartment level, and vice versa.

A further purpose of my invention is to provide common control for all intake and storage water to-and within a gravity meter,

reciprocally reducing either, as the other is increased. v

A further purpose of my invention is to make the withdrawal from the storage compartment of a gravity meter proportionate to the mean receipt of the intake water and, where admitted, the make-up Water, smoothing out the measuring curve averaging the supply of water to the receiving compartment of the meter. 'By making the speed of the pump correspond to the rate of evaporation in the boiler, i. e. to the mean return, the most economical'results are obtained and the meter curve is rendered more nearly the same as the rate ofboiler evaporat on.

A further purpose of my invention is to equalize the flow of water through the system by retarding the inlet water when the water already in the meter becomes excessive and releasing the inlet water soretarded, as the water the meter lowers. I

A further purpose of my invention is to safeguard the level of water in a gravity me er storage. chamber, by an overflow'capable of continuous operation, acting as a blow-oil" at any predetermined pressure and affording a resilient cushion vapor. seal at lower pressures.

7 A further purpose of my invention is to provide a protecflve, continuously operative overflow at the limit height of water in the I prefer to illustrate my invention forms thereof which I have determined to be practical, e'lticient and relatively inex; pensive, and Wl11Cl1 at the same time well illustrate the principles thereof.

Figure 1 is a broken side elevation of one I formof my invention. Fig. 2 is a section upon the line 10-10 of Fig. -1, looking in the direction of the arrows. .Fig. 3 is a partial section on an enlarged. scale upon the line n w of Fig. 1, looking inthe direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in vertical longitudinal section, of a second form of my invention. Fig. 5 is a section of the structure of Fig. 4 upon line n+1; thereof. looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a third form of my invention.

Similar numerals of reference in the drawings indicate like parts.

- This application is a division of my application forwater meter control, filed April 8, 1912, Ser. N .*689, 14A.

. indicated, I would refer to my co-pending In all of the forms of my invention I show a meter tank 1, preferably provided with thermostatic valve 2 and flap or vacuum-break valve 3, shown in my co-pe'ndingapplication, Serial Number 687,630, resulting in Patent No. 1,064,806, for fluid meter, filed April 1, 1912, for the purpose of ex-- hausting the space within the compartments at and 5 of air, when the pressure Within the meter casing exceeds atmospheric pressure, and of preventing vacuum within the chamher when connected so as to benefit from pressure conditions there, or, with reversed setting of the valve, for preventing pressure when intended for use with vacuumpans or surface condensers. The detail of these valve structures is not intended to be claimed independently by me, and for that reason they are not more fully illustrated. or their construction use, further than here application above stated.

In all of-the forms shown, of my inventicn, also, I have preferred to illustrate not only a gravity meter, but a meter of the weir type, whose upper or receiving chamher 4 and storage chamber 5 are in full communication at their upper ends for exchange, of pressure, gas and vapor, so that the same conditions of pressure r vacuum are maintained throughout. Tliif: same is true of the float. chamber 6 illustrated, whether this float chamber be actually within the meter casing, as illustrated and preferred, or not. It is intendedto-be kept in communication with the chamber both above and below the water level. It contains the float 7 through whose rod 8 any form of recorder or integrator within the casing 9 may be operated, one form of which is fully disclosed in U. S. Patent to Lea 815,102. I

In each of my forms, also, I prefer to introduce the water to the measuring tank through screened opening 10, controlled by valve 10 through handle 10 I have shown weirs 11, 11 and zero points 12in line with a sight opening. I have used a baflie plate 13, to free the'water'in proximity to the weir frcm disturbance by the intake water.

In all ofmy forms I have preferred to introduce the intake water through a controlling valve 14 and to automatically control the admission of water by a valve 15, which will be more fullydescribed here after. The intake water may be return water, coming from any part of a heating system, a condenser or feed water heater, or cold water supply, from whatever source. I have shown the intake without specific connection in Fig. 1; as'connected through a receiving or storage equalizing tank 16 in Fig. 4.; and as coming from-an open water heater 1'? in Fig. 6. l

- iVhei'e the feed Water heater affords the supply it provides its ownmake-up and V have not separately indicated make up water supply there.

I have shown my invention as applied to a system having a heater in series with or within the meter. Where the heater follows the meter, as in Fig. 1', or where the heater is located in part of one of the meter compartments, as in Fig. 4, and in any other locations where it would. not throw cold A water .n otherwise heated water supply,

I prefer to admit the make-up water, into the measuring meter compartment, as

it upon the opposite side from the-weir of the baffle plate 13, so as to reduce the disturbing influence of the influx of water at this point. However, the quantity of makeup water used will be ordinarily very'small and I prefer not to admit it until the low level of the water in the storage compartment indicates failure to i'eceive sufficient supply from the 7 return 'water.

The perforated plate 21 reduceswater jsurgingwithout interfering with the operation of the meter.

In all of the forms of my invention, I provide for control 0f the inlet and discharge water admitted to and taken from the weir tank, preferably. using the same means for control of both. I have illustrated one form of this in a float 22 connected by lever arm 23 with a shaft 24 in a pocket 25. The rod. passes out of the pocket near this connection and is packed at 26, so as to lie chiefly ex .terior to the tank, as at 2i. T is shaft is supported in suitable bearing 27 a d carries lever arms in proportion to the n1 mber of valves to be operated by it. Thus in allot the-forms which I have shown, it starts,

stops and regulates the pump by this means, controlling the discharge 36 through valve 36. ,The connections shown are a lever 28 upon the rod, a valve 29 in the supply pipe 30 for the pump 31 and a rod 32 and valve stem 32 between whereby the pump may be started and stopped or controlled in the extent of its operation by reason of the rise or fall of the level 33 of the Water in the storage compartment 5 of the meter.

In all of the. forms shown, likewise, I have controlled the intake water similarly and have illustrated, for this purpose, as

lever arm 34, upon the opposite side of the shaft from the lever arm 28. It operates a rod 35 adjustable by turn-buckle 35, whereby lever 37, piyoted at 38, is raised, lifting the stem 39 to open the valve 15 and admit additional intake water as the level of the water at 33 is reduced, or out off the main intake supply of water as the height of water at 33 is increased.

. inserted directly within the measuringcompartment of the meter and forms part of the intake of the meter. This make-up water is therefore also preferably controlled by the same means as that which controls the main intake, or bv coincidentally operating means.

Ihave preferred to control this by lever 41 upon the same shaft 24: as the other levers to which I have referred, and connect the lever 41 with the valve 20 by any suitable rod 42 and stem 43.

It will thus be seen that any increase water level within the storage 5 will-result in shutting otf the supply ofsteam to the pump at the same time that the main intake valve partially closed and that the make-up water, if inserted to the meter, may be correspondingly reduced or shut off.

In the form shown in Figs. land 2-, the discharge from the meter through valve 36' passes through the pump 31 to the heater 40, the pump thus being located between the meter and the heater; whereas, in the form shown in Fig. 6, the heater 17 supplies water to the meter and the pump followsithe meter, the meter being between the pump and heater; and in the form shown in Fig. 4, the receiving or weir chamber of the meter precedes the heater and the pump follows both. My invention is applicable to all of these forms.

I prefer that the control of the make-up water should not be as sensitive as the control of the-main intake and that the :valve in the make-up water pipe shall be normally closed, in order that the make-up water may not be drawn upon to make up or equalize minor inequalities or delays in delivery of the return water, but may be drawn upon to make up permanent shortage and permanent shortage only. One construction which insures this operation of the normally I closed make-up water valve 20 is shown. In it I provide a slot 44 in the lower end of the rod 42, so that the pin 45 upon the arm 41 mav not engage the'end of the slot until the level of the watt r at 33 becomes low enough to indicate a serious or permanent shortage of water,

vThe withdrawal of water from the catch basin by the pump, being normally more regular and uniform than the rate of flow of the return water to the receiving or weir compartment of the meter, high level of the water in the catch basin is usually due to an excessive rate of return water flow, causing an excessive height of'water level in the weir chamber and consequently increased flow of water into the catchbasin. The closing of the inlet valve by which the return Water reaches the weir chamber when the catch water basin level rises, therefore banks up this return water in the'forms shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, to be released when the catch basin level (and likewise normally the weir chamber level) islowered, resulting in a considerable smoothing out effect in the fluetuation of the levels, both in the catch basin and weir chamber from the pooling or damming up of the return water in. flood times and distribution of this water in the meter when the meter water level tends to lower. The reduction in fluctuation oft-he weir chamber level is highly beneficial in smoothing out the weir measuring curve, securing greater accuracy of measurement and, supplylng a more uniform flow into the catch basin for withdrawal by the pump.

It will be evident that I provide for pump operation substantially in proportion to the. evaporation at the boiler, since I determine the pump operation by the mean return,

from the heating system. The make-up water applied is small.

To provide for repairs to the meter unit I have provideda by-pass 46 within which I have placed a valve 47.

The height of water in the storage chamber of the meter is shown in a gage glass .48.

.While the automatic control of the main and make-up water intakes and the operation of the pump by the float 22 fully protect against flooding ofthe meter, whether weir, submerged orifice, or of any other gravity type, derangement of this automaticcontrol might make further protection desirable or necessary, and I have, therefore, supplied additional protection which may be used as auxiliary to the automatic control indicated or maybe advantageously employed when I all or-any part of the automatic control is not desired.

At' any suitable upper water limit 49 I place anoverflow pipe 50, which might be.

easily vented to the atmosphere but for the preferred use of my construction under pressure or vacuum meter conditions. I have accommodated this overflow to pressure or vacuum interchangeably at the same. time that I have made it operatlve as a resilient safety valve, by connection thereto of a tube 51, comprising arms 52 and 53. I prefer to .opening, 49, this opening, and consequently the content of the tube, is exposed 'to whati ever pressure or vacuum conditions are maintained )Vltllln the meter casing. The protectlve actlon of the tube wll'l be readily und-erstood from the discussion of its operation under pressure. With a vacuum the conditlons are reversed. 1

Whatever the pressure in the =meter caswithin arm 53 being reduced as the water is j take place,

ing, the water in the arm 52 will be correspondmgly depressed until the weight of the water in the unbalanced portion with 53 corresponding to the extent of depression of the water in the arm 52 equals the pressure within the meter casing. The static pressure of, the-unbalanced column of the water is thus used to counter-balance the pressure within the casing. Any increase of pressure within the casing will shove the water down a little farther in the arm 52, against a resilient or cushioned resistance, spilling a little more water out of the opening at 54,

' I have illustrated this feature while a reduction of pressure within the easin'g will result in the unbalanced column forced up somewhat within arm 52. Unlike the ordinary safety valve, the pressure is relieved somewhat at and bythe tube as the pressure approaches-the limit at which it is intended to be released. The tube thus forms a vapor seal at all times unless and until the pressure within the meter tank exceeds the weight of the column of water within the arm 53 of the tube, at which time the vapor is given free access to the atmosphere through the tube. In the form shown in Fig. 4:, this free vent of the meter casing, once begun, will continue until the tube is again filled with water. In Fig. (i I haveshown a different outlet 54; in the form of a container which may hold some water-all of the time or not as desired, the normal level of the water being ordinarily that of the outlet opening from the tank. The tank receives any water foi-cednpwardly through leg 53 of the tube and this water runs back into the tube when the pressure within the tank is again reduced. The temporary storage in the container of water originally in the tube will not prevent "relief of excessive pressure in the tank by blowing steam through the tube to the atmosphere as this steam will pass. through the water inthe container freely. The overflow function will;

still be performed in this structure, as soon as the height of water. within the tank reaches the height .of the container walls, 54. The pressure ,at which the vent may e. the limit of pressure set for;

the interior of the meter casing, can beaccurately predetermined by the height of the Utube. t

' In some forms of my invention it is highly. desirable to make use of a portion of the.

While meter for feed water heater purposes.

will. describe it, because it coiip'eiates advantageously with the other structure here shown, and was in the application from *"which this application has been diviaea i do not purpose claiming this heater here as it is claimed in the Patent No. 1,064,806,

issued June 17, 1913'. This is most ed-fv vantageouslydone within'the storage com -i within the meter,

low the baffle plate. where dischargeof here fully and I partment, which can be extended beneath the receiving compartment corresponding to the construction of Fig. 1, to give additional length-for the tubing and is desirably of good sized horizontal sectional area, as well as depth. readily accommodating the heater pipes. Either compartment, of course, could extend from wall to wall of the meter casing in either direction making it conveniently accessible for admission and discharge heater connections. My preferred heater, too, differs from usualclosed heaters in that the steam passes through the pipes and the water surrounds them.' It is further highly preferable to place the heating means in the storage compartment rather than the receiving compartment, since the water wouldotherwise have opportunity to cool in the relatively large storage required in the other compartment, which cannot be withdrawn tooclosely to the bottom, lest the pump be damaged by drawing air instead of water and racing correspondingly. I

have therefore preferred to select the storage compartment for the location of my heater and show steam tubes therefor.

In Fig. partment as and measuring compartment, as at 55, itself highly advantageous in increasing the storage without increase of floor space required,

I have shown the storage comand have made use of a portion of this eX- tended storage space, aswell as a portion of the storage space not under the receiving 'and measuring compartment, for Water heater purposes. a I have shown steam pipes 56 as extended from end to end of'the meter casing, connecting with headers 57, 58 to form a closed feed Water heater within the stora 'e com- 25 partment.

I supply preferably exhaust steam thereto by means of pipe 59 and with draw the steam therefrom" at 59'.- I'have considered thefurther detail of the heater steam connections as unnecessary since they would be the same as those of any separate closed feed water'heater'.

"In order to insure circulation within the "heater portion of the meter 1 have provided extended below the receiving provided for delivery of the water of con- 1 v densation-fromthe closed. feed water heater to the receiving and measuring compartment of the meter by reason of this difference in pressures, with the receiving compartment of the meconnecting the header 57 ter, below the water level thereof, by piping shown at 61 and 62, check valved against return at 62'. It is valved arcs and 6 k so that a pump or return trap 65 and connections 66 and 67, valved at 68 and (39, may be used for delivery of this water to the meter compartment Where the pressure does not accomplish this result.

The space between the tubes of the heater is utilized as storage space within the storage compartment of the meter without in-v terference with its function as water space for heater purposes, resulting in considerable economy of space. Correspondingly, the same storage space can he obtained Within the meter with but slight enlargement of the meter casing; the enlargement equaling the volume of the tubing only, greatly-reducing the cost as well as the space required and making it possible to place a feed water heater on the same floor space already in use for the meter and,at'substantiallythe same elevation. i

It will be evident that I have protected the storage side of a gravity meter against floodingor undue depression ofawater level by controlling all of the intakev as well as the pump, at the same time that I have smoothed out the measuring curve and provided for boiler pump feedproportionate to the evaporation at the boiler.

It will be further evident that I have additionally protected against flooding by a water seal overflow, forming a resilient safety valve for the vapor pressure preferthe water in the storage compartment of the compartment.

meter, a-boiler feeding device connected with the discharge pipe and connections from the float contr lling the intake and the feeding device to 1', it the introduction of water through the intake and start the device with increase of water in the storage 2. In a, device of the character stated, a tank having a receiving compartment, an intake connection therewith, a storage com-- partment in the tank extended beneath the receiving compartment, a boiler feeding device connected with the storage -comparte ment and means for controlling the operz tion of the feeding device by the height of water in the storagecompartment,

3. In a device. of the character stated, a-

Water connections for. said receiving compartment, a storagecompartment having a. water level below that of the receiving compa rtment, a dischargeconnection therefrom, a boiler feeding device connected to the said discharge connection and means for controlling the admission of return and make-up water and the operation of the feeding device with differences in height of the water in the storage compartment, to admit more water and cut down the-operation of the device as the level in the storage compartment is reduced and to pump more water and shut off the inlet supply as said water level is raised.

4. In a device of the character stated, a tank having a receiving and measuring compartment, return Water supply connection therefor,'a storage compartment Within the tank extended beneath the receiving compartment and having a different Water level therefrom, a discharge connection therefrom, a boiler feeding device connected to the discharge compartment-and a floatv and connections for controlling the operation of the device in proportion to the mean supply of return water to the receiving compartinent.

there-from, a discharge connection therefrom, a boiler feeding device connected to the discharge compartment and a float and 1 connections for controlling the operation of the device in proportion to the mean supply of return Water to the receiving compartmentn a p 6. In a device of the character stated, a receiving and measuring compartment, a return water connection therefor, including a tank adapted to act as 'a reservoirfor the return water, a valve in said connection located between the tank and thereceiving compartment, a storage compartment having a Water level difierent from that of the receiving compartment, a discharge connection therefor, a boiler feeding device connected with said discharge connection, a valve controlling said feeding device, a float in the storage compartment, and connections from said float to the two valves to reduce or stop the return Water supply and start the feeding device, with increase of Water level in the storage compartment.

7. Ina device of the. character stated, a

receiving and measuring compartment, re 1 turn waiter and make-up connections tlrereto, a valve in each connection, a storage compartinent having a Water level different from that of the receiving compartment, a discharge connection therefrom, a boiler feeding device connection with said discharge pipe, a float in the storage compartment and connections from the float to the two valves and feeding device whereby the valvesare opened and the feeding device shut oil with compartment directly connected therewith,

a valve in the connection, a make-up Water connection for themeter compartment, a valve in this connection, a storage compartment in the meter, a discharge connection from the storage compartment, a pump therein, a float in the storage compartment and connections between the float and the pump andtwo valves to control their operation, starting the pump and closing the valves as the storage water increases in height.

9. In a deviceof the character stated, a meter receiving compartment, return Water connection therefor, a valve in the connection, a storage meter compartment extend- ,ing under the receiving compartment, a dis charge connection for the storage compartment, a pump in the discharge connection, a float in the storage compartment and means between the float and return Water connection and pump starting the pump and closing the valve to back up the return water as the level in the storage compartment I'ISGS. o

10. In a device of the character stated, a meter receiving compartment, areturn water connection therefor, a valve in the con nection, a storage meter compartment, a (118* charge connection for the storage compartment, a pump in the discharge connection, a

float in the storage compartment and means fluid through the outlet connection in proportion to the height of the float.

12. In a device of the character stated, a weir meter having a receiving compartment and a catch basin, a main inlet connection to the receiving conipartment, a source of irregular \vatersupply for said inlet con nection,' a discharge connection from the catch basin, a float in the catch basin and means connected with the float for regulating the passage of Water through the inlet connection and the withdrawal of water from the catch basin by the level of water the catch basin to reduce the fluctuation or water flowing.

DAVID ROBERT YARNALL.

Witnesses HELEN I; KAUF'FM'AN,

WM. STEELL JACKSON, 

